Power driven aquaplane

ABSTRACT

A power driven aquaplane adapted for steering by body motion alone and having a transverse throttle bar mounted above a foreward portion of the plane or boat which is operable from either end to control the speed of an outboard motor mounted on a stern plate of the vehicle.

United States Patent Piazza et a1.

Jan. 25, 1972 POWER DRIVEN AQUAPLANE Inventorsz, Joe E. Piazza,Pacifica; Paul E. Nichols,

Sunnyvale, both of Calif.

Leisure Products Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif.

Feb. 16, 1970 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

U.S. Cl ..1 15/70, 74/480 B Int. Cl ..B63b 35/00 Field of Search ..115/70, 17, 18; 74/480 B, 480,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,280,786 10/1966 Rowell..l15/70 637,821 11/1899 Pau1son.. ...74/488 X 1,902,524 3/1933 Roth..74/488 X Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix I AttomyStanley Bialos andGregg & Hendricson 5 7] ABSTRACT A power driven aquaplane adapted forsteering by body motion alone and having a transverse throttle barmounted above a foreward portion of the plane or boat which is operablefrom either end to control the speed of an outboard motor mounted on astern plate of the vehicle.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN25 I972 SHEET 3 [IF 4lllllllllll I ham-wraps Jo: f. Pmzzn P404 i, Men/045 MM flrroeA/if POWERDRIVEN AQUAPLANE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION board upon which the operatorstands, together with a looped line held by'the-operator as the boardistowed through the water by a power boat. This type of boat or planetogether with water skis find widespread favor as a leisure device atwater resorts. A major limitation is present in the dependency uponseparate motive power as from a motor boat or the like. Further, theoperator is not able to control the direction of travel for the vehiclemust follow the towing boat.

There have been at least suggested the mounting of a motor upon anaquaplane, however numerous difficulties and hazards are present in sucha combination. An aquaplane is inherently unstable in the water,particularly at rest, and the balance and reflexes of the operatorstanding on the plane are additionally taxed by attachment of a motor.The weight of a motor may well sink a conventionally designed aquaplaneand also, when placed in the rear, as is almost necessary, poses a majorproblem to start up. Although a rigid forward upright may be provided onan aquaplane to assist the operator to balance himself, this fails tosolve the problem of an operator starting such as an outboard motor thatmay be mounted at the rear of the aquaplane while controlling the speedof such motor, and also fails to afford an operator the capability ofleaning far outboard while controlling motor speed.

The present invention solves the foregoing and other problems of a powerdriven aquaplane by provision of an improved motor control system andaquaplane structure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedaquaplane structure of substantial buoyancy and including a removablerigid upright handlebar assembly transversely of the body and forward ofthe center thereof. A rear transom plate is provided for mounting of aconventional outboard motor upon the aquaplane. The aquaplane is adaptedfor use by an operator standing thereon while gripping the handlebarsand steering the aquaplane solely by body movement, i.e., shifting bodyweight and leaning to port or starboard. An outboard motor mounted onthe transom has the shaft locked to prevent horizontal traverse so thatonly body motion provides steering.

The invention further provides an improved throttle control unitextending between an outboard motor mounted on the transom plate and thehandlebars. This throttle control is operable from either port orstarboard ends of the handlebars to vary the speed of the motor andincludes means for automatically returning the motor to a condition ofidle or shutoff" upon throttle control release. Particular advantage isachieved by this double-ended" throttle capability in the steering andstarting of the aquaplane. One standing upon the aquaplane must turntoward the motor and reach out with one hand to pull the start cord" andnormally retains his balance by gripping the handlebars with the otherhand. As soon as the motor starts the aquaplane is placed in motion andthe operator must then pivot about to face forward and operate thecontrols. With the present invention, an operator may grip either end ofthe throttle control during starting, depending upon whether he operatesthe invention right or left handed. Consequently the operator is able toretain balance at all times during the start-up operation. Further, thedouble-ended" throttle control allows an operator to lean far outboardwith both hands gripping one end of the handlebars and yet exercisethrottle control.

There is also provided herein an improved method of providing remotethrottle control of an outboard motor.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The present invention is illustrated as to apreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a power driven aquaplane inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the aquaplane of FIG. 1illustrating the position of a right-handed and a lefthanded operatorstarting the motor;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the throttle control at thehandlebars taken in the plane 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic illustration of portions of the throttlecontrol at the handlebars;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the throttle control taken inthe plane 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the throttle control taken inthe plane 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the throttle control connection to anoutboard motor mounted on the aquaplane;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the throttle control connectionat the motor taken in the plane 99 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a partial transverse sectional view taken in the plane 10-l0of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering now a preferredembodiment of the present invention, reference is made to FIG. 1 of thedrawings wherein there will be seen to be shown an aquaplane 21 formedin accordance with the present invention. The aquaplane is preferablyformed as a unitary hollow hull or body of a rigid structure from frontto rear end of a material such as Fiberglas by joining together top andbottom portions 22 and 23 to form one or more flotation compartmentstherebetween and there is formed a central depression in the upperportion 22 as generally illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3. Atthe rear of the aquaplane there is provided a transom 26 formed, forexample, of a heavy transverse board of plywood or the like firmlyanchored to the Fiberglas body as a rear closure to the depression 24and providing means for mounting an outboard motor 27. The motor may beclamped to the transom 26 in the same manner as outboard motors arenormally attached to the stern of boats. The aquaplane of the presentinvention also includes an upright handlebar assembly 28 mountedforwardly of the body in extension upwardly from the top thereof andextending transversely across the body. This handlebar assembly 28 isprovided for the purpose of gripping by an operator of the aquaplane 21for balancing purposes of the operator and also for operation of theoutboard motor 27 mounted on the aquaplane. Throttle control means 29are provided in extension from the handlebar apparatus to the motor forthe foregoing purpose.

Considering the throttle control means 29 in somewhat further detail andreferring to FIGS. 4 to 7, it will be seen that the handlebar assembly28 includes a rigid upright structure 31 adapted for removableattachment to the hull of the aquaplane 21 and mounting at the topthereof a pair of aligned laterally spaced cylindrical mounts ormounting blocks 32 and 33. An elongated handlebar tube 34 is extendedthrough these mounts 32 and 33, as shown in FIG. 4, and is securedthereto by a pair of screws 36 that may, for example, be self tapping.

An elongated torque tube 41 is disposed axially through the handlebartube 34 and a cylindrical spacer 42 is connected to each end of thetorque tube 41 by means of a pin 43 extending through tube and spacer,as illustrated in FIG. 5. These spacers 42 are disposed about the torquetube at opposite ends of the handlebar tube 34 against the outer ends ofthe handlebar tube, as shown in FIG. 4. At each end of the handlebartube there is provided a rotatable sleeve assembly or twist member 44 oflike construction and, referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that thesleeve assembly 44 includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve 46 having aslotted outer end. The sleeve fits over the handlebar tube 34 at the endthereof with the above-noted pin 43 extending into the end slot 47 ofthe sleeve with the sleeve extending over the cylindrical spacer 42 atthe end of the torque tube. Thus, it will be seen that the torque tubeis mounted within the handlebar tube for rotation by twist members orsleeve assemblies which are adapted to be rotated about the handlebartube. Thus the twist members at opposite ends of the handlebar arecoupled together.

At the left of the handlebar assembly as shown in FIG. 4, there isprovided what may be termed a twist grip assembly 51 including theabove-described sleeve assembly 44. This twist grip assembly 51 includesa pulley wheel or drum 52 disposed about the sleeve 46 in attachmentthereto and a housing 53 over the drum. The housing is formed as twomeeting halves that are placed together about the sleeve 46 andtightened in position by means of bolts 54 with each bolt having a headabutting a surface of one-half and a shank threaded into the other half,as shown in FIG. 7. The housing 53 extends about the pulley wheel ordrum 52 with openings for access to the bolt heads and includes adepending hollow cylindrical projection 57 through which a cable at 58is adapted to pass for engagement with the pulley wheel. The throttlecable 58 may be of the general type employed as a speedometer cable orthe like wherein an outer sheath or casing 59 surrounds the cable 58 sothat the cable itself is free to move within the sheath. At the end ofthe cable 58 there is provided a fitting 55 as, for example, in the formof a short cylinder secured to the cable end for the purpose ofattachment of the cable to the pulley wheel 52. This attachment may beaccomplished by the provision of corresponding circular openings 56through the sides of the pulley wheel, as shown in FIG. 5, with a slotextending from these openings to the wheel periphery. The fitting maythus he slipped laterally into the wheel openings with the cable thenlying about the wheel hub as shown in FIG. 6 and extending through thehousing opening 57. A rubber or plastic twist grip 60 may be slippedover the sleeves at opposite ends of the handlebar tube and cementedthereto if desired.

It will be seen that with the foregoing construction of the handlebarassembly, turning of the grips 63 from either end of the assembly willserve to rotate the pulley wheel and move the cable 58. This capabilityis highly advantageous in control of a power driven aquaplane, and setforth in more detail below.

Considering now the throttle control 29 of the present invention asapplied to an outboard motor 27 mounted upon the transom of theaquaplane 21, reference is made to FIGS. 8, 9 and of the drawings. Theoutboard motor 27 is conventionally provided with a throttle bar 61which is rotated to vary the throttle setting of the motor. The presentinvention operates to produce this rotary motion to the throttle barfrom the handlebar assembly described above. To this end there isprovided a split pulley wheel 62 having a somewhat rectangular shaftopening with serrations 63 formed along at least part of the innersurface of the opening. Spacers 64, also having serrations along theinner surfaces thereof, may be provided for the purpose of accommodatingattachment of the pulley to different sized throttle bars on differentoutboard motors. In assembly the split pulley wheel 62 is placed aboutthe throttle bar 61 with or without one or both spacers 64 as may berequired and is clamped to the bar 61 by means of bolts 66 extendingfrom one wheel half into threaded engagement with the other, as shown inFIG. Q. The throttle control assembly is adapted to provide a dead manthrottle which returns the throttle control to idle or shutoff positionwhen released.

The throttle bar 61 is in fact comprised as a central rotata ble bar orthe like extending from a cylindrical housing 71 and having, forexample, a twist grip on the end thereof for normal outboard motoroperation. In accordance with the present invention, this twist grip iseither removed from the throttle bar and the above-noted pulley wheel 62is secured to the end of the rotatable throttle bar, or it is possibleto attach the pulley wheel about the twist grip itself or to the barbetween grip and housing, as shown. As briefly noted above, the presentinvention provides for returning the throttle to an idle or shutoffposition when the throttle control mechanism of the present invention isreleased. This is herein accomplished by the provision of a bracket 72which is mounted upon the throttle bar housing 71 and depends therefrom.As shown in FIG. 8, this bracket 72 extends downwardly beneath thethrottle bar housing 71 and is mounted thereon as by means of one ormore clamps 73 which may include depending plates bolted to the top ofthe bracket. An individual clamp, such as shown in FIG. 10, may, forexample, comprise a flexible strip of laterally slotted metal 74extending about upper lateral pro jections of a mounting plate 76 andhaving a thumbscrew operated threaded engagement for tightening thestrap or the like 74 about the housing, somewhat in the manner of a pipeclamp. Alternatively other types of mounting means may be employed.

At the lower end of the bracket 72 there is provided mounting means suchas a split mounting block 77 with the two portions thereof defining thevertical aperture therethrough. This block 77 is attached to the bracketby a thumbscrew 78 extending through the bottom of the bracket andthreaded into one side of a mounting block. A pair of bolts 79 extendfrom the exterior of the mounting block through the outer portionthereof into threaded engagement with the inner portion adjacent thebracket 72, as generally illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The cable 58 isplaced between the portions of the mounting block 77 and the mountingblock bolts 79 are then tightened to grip the cable casing or sheath 59.Alternatively the block may be formed integrally with the bracket 72.The end of the cable 58 is extended about the pulley wheel 62 and hasthe end thereof formed as a loop, as indicated at 81 of FIG. 9, Atransverse pin 82 is extended through the side flanges of the pulleywheel with a head on one end of the pin exteriorly of the wheel. Thispin extends through the loop 81 on the end of the cable and a cotter pin83 engages the opposite end of the pin 82 to maintain such pin inrecited position.

With the above-described structure it will be seen that drawing of thecable 58 downwardly in FIG. 9 will serve to rotate the throttle shaft 61in a counterclockwise direction, which in this illustration is intendedto increase the throttle setting, i.e., speed up the motor. An elongatedspiral return spring 86 has one end thereof looped about the pin 82 ofthe pulley wheel and the other end looped about a convenient location atthe bottom of the bracket such as, for example, the head of one of thebolts 79 of the mounting block 77. This spring is maintained in tensionso as to thus at all times tend to rotate the pulley wheel and thus theattached throttle shaft 61 in a clockwise direction for returning thethrottle setting to either idle or shutoff.

The throttle control cable 58 extends from the handlebar assembly asdescribed above to the throttle control of the outboard motor. In suchextension it is preferable to provide a number of small retaining clips88 which may snap about the cable sheath or casing and attach to theaquaplane hull as, for example, along the inner side of the recesstherein as shown in FIG. 1. It will be seen that, with the throttlecontrol means as described above, rotation of either end of thehandlebar assembly by an operator will result in movement of the cable58 which consequently rotates the throttle control bar of the outboardmotor to thereby vary the speed of the outboard motor.

It is to be particularly noted that outboard motor is to be locked so asto operate only in a straight fore and aft condition. This isaccomplished by use of the steering adjustment or friction screw whichis an integral part of outboard motors and is schematically illustratedat 91 of FIG. I. With the motor screw 92 oriented to drive the motordirectly forward, the friction screw 91 is tightened to lock the motorin this condition inasmuch as steering of the improved aquaplane of thepresent invention is accomplished solely by the shifting of body weightby an operator, as is described in more detail below.

Considering now operation of the present invention and referringparticularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, it is first noted that the aquaplane ispreferably formed of a size to readily accommodate or hold a singleperson standing upright in the center thereof. Thus, for example, thebody or hull may have a length of the order of 7 to 8 feet and a widthof 3% feet. The handlebar assembly 28 extends upwardly from the hullsufficiently so that an operator standing in the recess 24 of the hullcan conveniently grip the handlebars while remaining in a relativelyupright position. To this end the total height of the hull andhandlebars may be of the order of 3 feet and it is further noted thatthe handlebar assembly is preferably detachably mounted on the hull soas to be readily removed for storage and transport of the aquaplane. Inoperation a person stands in the hull and grips the handlebar. Byrotating the handlebar ends the throttle setting of the outboard motoris changed so that the speed of the aquaplane through the water iscontinuously variable at the will of the operator. Control overdirection of the aquaplane is accomplished by the operator leaning fromone side to the other and thus shifting his body weight, somewhat in themanner that a water skier directs his travel. There is, however,provided by the present invention complete control over the velocity ofmovement by the operator himself and also a complete freedom as todirection of travel so that the operator then has the freedom of powerboating with the thrill and athletic endeavor of water skiing. Controlover turning is accomplished by a coordination of shifting of the weightof the operator with throttle control as the turning radius is in partdependent upon the speed of the plane through the water. Only arelatively small outboard motor, such as 6 to [4 horsepower, is requiredto reach substantial speeds, as of the order of 25 mph.

A particular and important improvement afforded by the present inventionis the double-ended throttle control at the handlebars of the presentinvention. The importance of this type of control under startingconditions is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. It isintended that the present invention shall be adapted for use withsubstantially all outboard motors of relatively low power and suchmotors are conventionally started by rapidly pulling a starter cord 93which thus requires the operator to turn toward the motor in order togrip this cord. There is illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, an operator94 standing in the aquaplane 21 and reaching back with his left hand topull the starter cord 93. It is to be appreciated that the aquaplane ofthe present invention, in common with small boats, has a limitedstability at rest in the water and consequently it is necessary for theoperator to balance himself not only during travel in the aquaplane butparticularly during start-up operations. As shown in FIG. 2, theoperator is gripping the handlebar with his right hand on the port sideof the aquaplane. Thus the operator is able to stand in the normalbalanced position of operation and yet to swing his body about to startthe motor while gripping the handlebar throttle control. Similarly thereis illustrated in FIG. 3 the operator 94 standing up in the aquaplane atrest in a position of balance with his right hand extended rearwardly topull the start cord 93 and his left hand gripping the starboard end ofthe handlebar throttle control. It is to be particularly noted that ineither of the above circumstances, should the operator be required togrip the other end of the throttle control from that illustrated, hisbody weight would be disposed laterally outward from the center ofgravity of the aquaplane to thus endanger the stability of the plane andhimself in the water. It is only by providing double-ended throttlecontrol at the handlebars that both right-handed and left-handedstarting operations are possible as illustrated. Owing to a limitedstability of the aquaplane at rest in the water, it is highly importantthat the operator be able to balance himself therein during startingoperations. It is further noted that a rapid pull on the start cord doesimpart some tipping motion to the aquaplane and this then imposes afurther requirement for good balance by the operator that can only beattained by proper location of his feet and body throughout theoperation.

The double-ended throttle control at the handlebars is also highlyadvantageous in controlling the aquaplane underway. As noted above,turning of the aquaplane is accomplished by a combination of throttlecontrol and shifting of body weight. Thus for a relatively sharp turn itis necessary for the operator to lean far out to one side and in sodoing he preferably grips one side of the handlebars with both hands. Inthis position the 'operator still retains full control over the speed ofthe aquaplane whichever way he is leaning because either end of thethrottle bar can be twisted for speed control. Any other type ofthrottle control would necessarily limit the degree that an operatorcould lean and still control the throttle. Thus the capabilities ofaquaplane control are materially increased by the present invention.

The present invention provides a new dimension in water sports. Thefreedom of complete control normally available in a power boat isachieved together with the athletic endeavor of water skiing oraquaplaning. A certain amount of physical dexterity is required foroperation of the powered aquaplane of this invention, particularly withregard to the necessary for turning. Although the hull of the aquaplanemay be formed as an unsinkable unit, it is yet important that theaquaplane structure be such that an operator is capable of the necessarybalance and body weight shifting. The present invention does provide astructure to this end particularly by the provision of the handlebararrangement with double-ended throttle control. It is also to be notedthat the throttle control may be employed on other types of power boatsalthough it is particularly desirable for the aquaplane of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination of a power driven aquaplane comprising a unitary hullstructure substantially rigid from front to rear having an outboardmotor mounted at the rear thereof with a starting cord and a centralportion upon which an occupant can stand, and which is steerable solelyby body motion of the occupant leaning from one side to the other insuch standing position to shift his weight; and an upright supportmember forward of such central portion rigidly connected to said hull, arotatably mounted throttle shaft supported by said upright member andextending across the aquaplane, an operating grip at each end of thethrottle shaft which can be grasped by the occupant, and motor controlconnecting means between said motor and said throttle shaft wherebythrottle control can be obtained from either side of the aquaplane byoperating either of said grips with the occupant in standing position,and the motor can be started by the occupant pulling the motor startingcord with either hand with the other hand grasping a selected grip tomaintain balance during starting.

2. The combination of claim 1 further defined by said upright membercomprising demountable handlebars having a rotary mounted twist memberat each end thereof coupled together through the handlebars, and a cableengaging a rotary mounted portion of said handlebars and extending tosaid motor for actuation by either twist member.

3. The combination of claim 1 further defined by said throttle controlincluding resilient means engaging motor throttle control and urgingsame to an idle or shutoff condition.

4. In an aquaplane having a handlebar assembly extending laterallyacross and above the hull forward of the center thereof and adapted tomount a motor having a throttle bar at the rear of the hull, theimprovement comprising throttle control means comprising a twist membermounted at each end of said handlebar assembly and coupled together by atorque bar extending laterally of said hull through the handlebarassembly and engaging said twist members to turn together, a cableconnected to said twist members for movement therewith and extending tosaid motor throttle bar, attachment means for removable engagement withsaid throttle bar and connecting said cable thereto for throttle baroperation by said twist members, said attachment means including aspring mounted to urge said throttle bar to a position of minimumthrottle setting, and a pulley wheel having said cable connected theretoand secured to one of said twist members whereby turning of either twistmember draws the cable about the pulley wheel and release of the twistmembers causes the cable to unwind by spring action to return the twistmembers to original position.

5. A throttle control system for power driven water vehicle having amotor with a rotary throttle bar comprising a hollow handlebar having asleeve mounted about each end for rotation thereabout, a torque barextending through the handlebar into engagement with each sleeve forcoupling the sleeves together, a drum secured to one sleeve, a cablehaving a first end connected to said drum for winding thereabout uponsleeve rotation in a first direction from a rest position and extendingto said motor, attachment means connecting a second end of said cable tosaid throttle bar for turning same from a first position of minimumthrottle upon cable winding on said sleeve drum, and resilient meansengaging said throttle bar and urging same to said first position.

6. The throttle control system of claim further defined by saidattachment means including a split pulley wheel having a serratedcentral opening and connecting bolts for clamping the wheel aboutthrottle bars, said cable extending about said pulley wheel intoconnection therewith, and a bracket attachable to the motor housing andadapted to clamp a casing of the cable and to retain one end of saidresilient means extending into engagement with said pulley wheel.

7. A remote throttle control system for an outboard marine engine havinga throttle bar comprising a split pulley wheel including means forclamping same about said throttle bar, a bracket including means forclamping the bracket to a housing about said throttle bar, a flexiblecable adapted for connection to remote throttle control means andextending partially about said pulley wheel for turning said throttlebar in a direction of increasing throttle setting, and resilient meansconnected between said pulley wheel and bracket urging said throttle barto turn in a direction of decreasing throttle setting.

8. The control of claim 7 further defined by said cable including acentral wire movable within and surrounded by a flexible casing, saidbracket including clamping means for engaging said cable casing, andsaid means for clamping said pulley wheel to said throttle bar includingserrations formed about at least a portion of the inner opening in saidpulley wheel and curved serrated members disposable between the pulleywheel and throttle bar as required to fit the pulley wheel to throttlebars of different diameters.

9. The method of providing remote control of the throttle bar of anoutboard motor which comprises providing a pulley wheel in at least twosectors, clamping said sectors about the throttle bar, connecting acontrol cable to said pulley for rotating the throttle bar in a firstdirection of increasing throttle setting, and connecting resilient meansto said pulley wheel in opposition to said cable for urging the pulleywheel to rotate the throttle bar in a second direction of decreasingthrottle setting.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said throttle bar may vary indiameter, comprising the additional step of providing frictionalengaging means between the sectors of said pulley wheel and said bar forsecure clamping of the pulley wheel to throttle bars in accordance withthe diameters of the bars.

1. The combination of a power driven aquaplane comprising a unitary hullstructure substantially rigid from front to rear having an outboardmotor mounted at the rear thereof with a starting cord and a centralportion upon which an occupant can stand, and which is steerable solelyby body motion of the occupant leaning from one side to the other insuch standing position to shift his weight; and an upright supportmember forward of such central portion rigidly connected to said hull, arotatably mounted tHrottle shaft supported by said upright member andextending across the aquaplane, an operating grip at each end of thethrottle shaft which can be grasped by the occupant, and motor controlconnecting means between said motor and said throttle shaft wherebythrottle control can be obtained from either side of the aquaplane byoperating either of said grips with the occupant in standing position,and the motor can be started by the occupant pulling the motor startingcord with either hand with the other hand grasping a selected grip tomaintain balance during starting.
 2. The combination of claim 1 furtherdefined by said upright member comprising demountable handlebars havinga rotary mounted twist member at each end thereof coupled togetherthrough the handlebars, and a cable engaging a rotary mounted portion ofsaid handlebars and extending to said motor for actuation by eithertwist member.
 3. The combination of claim 1 further defined by saidthrottle control including resilient means engaging motor throttlecontrol and urging same to an idle or shutoff condition.
 4. In anaquaplane having a handlebar assembly extending laterally across andabove the hull forward of the center thereof and adapted to mount amotor having a throttle bar at the rear of the hull, the improvementcomprising throttle control means comprising a twist member mounted ateach end of said handlebar assembly and coupled together by a torque barextending laterally of said hull through the handlebar assembly andengaging said twist members to turn together, a cable connected to saidtwist members for movement therewith and extending to said motorthrottle bar, attachment means for removable engagement with saidthrottle bar and connecting said cable thereto for throttle baroperation by said twist members, said attachment means including aspring mounted to urge said throttle bar to a position of minimumthrottle setting, and a pulley wheel having said cable connected theretoand secured to one of said twist members whereby turning of either twistmember draws the cable about the pulley wheel and release of the twistmembers causes the cable to unwind by spring action to return the twistmembers to original position.
 5. A throttle control system for powerdriven water vehicle having a motor with a rotary throttle barcomprising a hollow handlebar having a sleeve mounted about each end forrotation thereabout, a torque bar extending through the handlebar intoengagement with each sleeve for coupling the sleeves together, a drumsecured to one sleeve, a cable having a first end connected to said drumfor winding thereabout upon sleeve rotation in a first direction from arest position and extending to said motor, attachment means connecting asecond end of said cable to said throttle bar for turning same from afirst position of minimum throttle upon cable winding on said sleevedrum, and resilient means engaging said throttle bar and urging same tosaid first position.
 6. The throttle control system of claim 5 furtherdefined by said attachment means including a split pulley wheel having aserrated central opening and connecting bolts for clamping the wheelabout throttle bars, said cable extending about said pulley wheel intoconnection therewith, and a bracket attachable to the motor housing andadapted to clamp a casing of the cable and to retain one end of saidresilient means extending into engagement with said pulley wheel.
 7. Aremote throttle control system for an outboard marine engine having athrottle bar comprising a split pulley wheel including means forclamping same about said throttle bar, a bracket including means forclamping the bracket to a housing about said throttle bar, a flexiblecable adapted for connection to remote throttle control means andextending partially about said pulley wheel for turning said throttlebar in a direction of increasing throttle setting, and resilient meansconnected between said pulley wheel and bracket urging said throttle bArto turn in a direction of decreasing throttle setting.
 8. The control ofclaim 7 further defined by said cable including a central wire movablewithin and surrounded by a flexible casing, said bracket includingclamping means for engaging said cable casing, and said means forclamping said pulley wheel to said throttle bar including serrationsformed about at least a portion of the inner opening in said pulleywheel and curved serrated members disposable between the pulley wheeland throttle bar as required to fit the pulley wheel to throttle bars ofdifferent diameters.
 9. The method of providing remote control of thethrottle bar of an outboard motor which comprises providing a pulleywheel in at least two sectors, clamping said sectors about the throttlebar, connecting a control cable to said pulley for rotating the throttlebar in a first direction of increasing throttle setting, and connectingresilient means to said pulley wheel in opposition to said cable forurging the pulley wheel to rotate the throttle bar in a second directionof decreasing throttle setting.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein saidthrottle bar may vary in diameter, comprising the additional step ofproviding frictional engaging means between the sectors of said pulleywheel and said bar for secure clamping of the pulley wheel to throttlebars in accordance with the diameters of the bars.